Tipping device for containers



Feb. 28, 1950 E. T. WALTO'N 2,499,338

TIPPING DEVICE FOR CONTAINERS "T Filed March 25, 1947 hyvevfor E. T Walton Anzm Patented Feb. 28, 1950 OF P I CE TIPPENG DEVICE FOR. CONTAINERS Ernest Thomas Walton, St.-James, Manitoba,,

' Canada Ar'pplioation March 25, 1947,. Seri'al'No... 736;,960'

(chase-1.1).:

In the handling of merchandise'it is quite common for shippers and truckers to have to handle containers of great weight. This is particularly true for metal or wooden barrels, especially if the metal barrels contain oil's. Such barrels take up less space when up-ended but can be easily rolled when on their sides. When such barrels are filled with liquid, they often weigh from 300 to 900 pounds, thus requiring the efforts of two men to move them. In many cases boxes have to be lifted or tipped onto two-wheel trucks or connected to cranes and are too heavy for one man to move.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a device which can be quickly attached to a container so that the operator will have a greatly increased leverage for tipping same and one man will be able to do the work formerly employing two men.

A further object of the invention is to construct said device so that it will tip cylindrical shaped barrels over on their sides for rolling purposes, up-end them for storage, or tip crates and boxes for the insertion thereunder of two-wheel trucks or lifting means.

A further object of the invention is to construct the device with leverage adjusting means to prevent damage to the container and to position the device for the more convenient handling by an operator.

A further object of the invention is to construct the device with gripping jaws so that it will be positive in action with little possibility of slippage.

A still further object of the invention is to construct the device in a simple manner for cheapness of manufacture and of a weight such that it can be readily transported.

With the above important and other minor objects in view, which will become more apparent as the description proceeds, the invention con sists essentially in the construction and arrangement of parts, hereinafter more particularly described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of the invention complete.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of a metal drum container standing upright with parts broken away to show construction and with the invention attached thereto for the tipping operation.

Figure 3 is an elevation of the same metal drum on its side with the invention attached for the up-ending of same.

In the drawings like characters of reference 2. indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

The invention comprises a round or tubular rod l which forms a lever and the lower end is flattened and curved to form a foot as indicated at 2". The extreme end of the curved portion is provided with a series of V-shaped teeth 3. A heavy plate 4 is provided witha pair of holes 5 and 5 of slightly larger diameter than the diameter of the rod l. One end of the plate is bent in a hook I and the ends of the hook may be provided with teeth similar to those 3 if desired. The plate is adapted to be slid down the rod I, using either one of the holes 5 or 6.

A cylindrical metal drum container 3 is shown in Figures 2 and 3. These drums are usually provided at each end with a closure disc 9 having their periphery pressed in a U shape It) to lock overthe ends of the drum in a liquid tight joint to form an annular outward flange l l. The central portions of the drum arere-inforced by annular outwardly pressed flanges i2.

Assuming that the drum is in the vertical position as shown in Figure 2 and the operator desires to move the drum to another location. The rod l is passed through the hole 8 in the plate 4. The teeth 3 of the foot 2 are placed against the side of the drum while the hooked end I of the plate 4 is caught over the U-shaped edge ill of the drum. Due to the rod I being in the hole 6, the rod leans at an outward angle. This leaning lever permits the operator considerable purchase on the drum while standing in a natural position and by pulling downward on the lever he can easily tip the drum over and the lever can be released and moved out of the way before the drum reaches the horizontal position. The drum can then be rolled where desired.

To up-end the drum into the original vertical position again, the'lever l and plate A are connected in the same manner as above, but in this operation the lever l is passed through the hole I 5 of the plate 4, instead of the hole 6. Accordgravity of the drum is within its base which permits the drum to rock into the vertical position. While I have explained the operation of tipping over a drum or lifting same up, the same tipping action can be used on any container to insert part of the container, the operator will have a good purchase on the lever I. In the same way the containers can be tipped for insertion of cables, chains, etc. thereunder so that said containers can be lifted by cranes.

The plate 4, being slidable on the handle I, permits the operator to position the foot 2 where he desires on the side of the container. Obviously, the lower it is positioned the less pressure exerted by the teeth 3 with less damage to the container, while the higher the foot is positioned, the more tipping leverage the operator can exert on the container. While I have only provided two holes 5 and 6, more may be added if desired or required. These holes permit the operator to secure the best possible purchase position for the lifting lever.

From the above, it will be apparent that I have produced a very simple tipping device for containers which can be economically manufactured, ideally serves the purpose, can be conveniently carried around by the operator and can be produced in a large number of sizes. When not in use the device can be stored as it occupies a minimum of space.

What I claim as my invention is:

A tipping device for containers, comprising:

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 65,727 Colburn June 11, 1867 110,502 Scofield Dec. 27, 1870 824,041 Pilliner June 19, 1906 2,244,988 Fuller June 10, ,1941

FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 742,497 France Dec. 27, 1932 

